Max fourth in sprint race Qatar: 'Car is bouncing everywhere'
Published on 29 November 2025 by Florence Cobben
Max Verstappen has come fourth in the sprint race of the Qatar Grand Prix. The result was determined in the first lap, where Max managed to make up two places. Meanwhile, McLaren-driver Oscar Piastri cruised away from his starting spot in pole position and managed to win the sprint, followed by George Russell and Lando Norris.
“It’s been difficult so far. The start was of course good and I think in the first three laps I just pushed a bit more compared to the guys ahead of the track, looking for an opportunity, knowing that passing was tough. But after that, yeah, you just get into the same trouble. The more the tyres wear, the more you feel those kind of issues, and that basically is what prevented us from really following them. I was basically doing my own race out there. We need to work on that, get rid of the bouncing, jumping, get rid of the oversteer in general. That’s still a big problem.”
Elaborating on the bouncing problem, Max shares: “My car is bouncing everywhere, something I had yesterday already. In the race you go through the turns a bit slower, so the bouncing is a bit less aggressive, but even in the slower turns under braking I am bouncing. You can’t attack a corner consistently. That’s just annoying.”
It’s a little past 17 o’clock local time when the start lights go out, marking the start of the sprint race. Max has a good start; after two corners, the Dutchman has gained two places. He sails past Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Tsunoda also had a promising start, but didn't manage to gain any positions. In the meantime, Piastri has shot off into the sunset. He maintains the lead ahead of George Russell (Mercedes) and Lando Norris (McLaren).
In the opening phases of the race, Max is hot on Norris’ heels. Lap after lap, the Dutchman comes within DRS-range and goes on the hunt. Max makes one serious attempt at an overtake, but nothing he tries amounts to a serious attack. After six laps he loses his momentum and falls out of DRS-range. The four-time world champion is unhappy with his car, reporting over the radio that it’s bouncing everywhere, echoing his complaints in free practice 1 and sprint qualifying.
After this initial battle, the excitement on track dies down. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) had a bad start, cutting through the gravel and falling to thirteenth place. Halfway through the race the Monagasque goes wide again, and smelling blood in the water, Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) goes on the attack. Lawson overtakes Leclerc, but outside of the track. He’s forced to give the position back. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) does manage a legal overtake—after Alonso makes a mistake, the Italian rookie takes sixth place on lap thirteen.
When the flag falls, it’s Piastri who crosses the finish line first. He moves two points closer to Norris in the championship. Max finishes fourth, behind Russell (P2) and Norris (P3), increasing his gap to first place in the championship to 25 points. Both Tsunoda (P5) and Antonelli (P6) receive five-second penalties for track limits, meaning neither loses their position.
Contest GP Qatar: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing cap!
